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Maybe it was better never to enter into another relationship, so it couldn’t fall apart.
***
After a night of tossing and turning, filled with fitful dreams I couldn’t seem to remember, I practically needed toothpicks to prop my eyelids up. The dark circles under my eyes weren’t just bags, they were a full set of luggage, and I was chugging back Zest potions just to stay upright. The potion, which Finn jokingly called ‘super coffee’, wasn’t as helpful as it usually was, but at least it left a nice citrus taste in my mouth.
I passed the day in a gray fog, but at least it went by quickly. Though I was pretty sure that was only because I kept nodding off between the few customers I had. It was a couple minutes after sundown when the bell above the door jingled cheerily and had my head snapping up as Wanda stalked into the shop.
Wanda Depraysie, High Witch of the Scapegrace Coven, and also my closest friend in Haven Hollow, looked cool and confident in wide legged charcoal pants and a sleeveless silk blouse in a rich red. The heels of her open toed heels clacked against the wooden floors, announcing her presence, and showed off her toenails that were painted a deep scarlet.
She paused just in front of the shop counter, and her hands dropped to her hips.
“Are you ready to go?”
I blinked at her, struggling to focus. “Go? Go where?”
Wanda, never the most patient of people, tightened her lips. “Earth to Poppy—we have the meeting for the Solstice Festival planning, remember? The one that I had absolutely zero interest in attending until you begged and pleaded with me ad nauseum until I finally agreed just to make you stop?”
That wasn’t quite how I remembered it, but Wanda didn’t like appearing enthusiastic for anything, least of all festivals.
I blinked out at the windows, at the streetlights coming on along the main strip of town. “Is it that time already?”
I felt silly the second after I said the words. Of course, it was that time. The meeting was set for tonight, after sunset, so that Wanda would be able to attend. She’d been sticking to nocturnal hours for months, ever since a group of vampires decided that they didn’t like her being a Blood Witch, and were trying to force her vampire boyfriend Lorcan to finish the job. But vampires don’t have magic, and Wanda wasn’t willing to give hers up, so together, Lorcan and Wanda had pulled off a bit of a ruse, and Wanda went around pretending that she’d really been turned. It kept the vampires and the witches from kicking up a fuss, and it didn’t seem to bother her any, since she had Maverick to help with running the store in the daylight hours.
“Shoot, I forgot,” I said, shaking my head.
Wanda squinted at me, her arms folded across her chest. “Are you drunk?”
My head whipped back to her, suddenly a lot more alert. “No!”
“Are you sure?” Wanda tilted her head to one side, her long dark hair spilling over one shoulder. “I might actually be impressed if you showed up to work drunk. It would certainly make you more interesting and less... perfect.”
Blood rushed into my face. “I’m not drunk and I’m hardly perfect!”
“Pity about the drunk part,” Wanda sighed and then shrugged. “What’s wrong with you, then?”
“I just haven’t been sleeping well.” I scrubbed my hands over my face, hoping that would do something to wake me up. “Just too much on my mind, I guess.”
“Well, there’s your first problem.” Wanda waved a dismissive hand at me, turning towards the door. “You worry too much. Maybe try worrying about yourself for a while, and don’t take on everyone else’s problems. I find it very relaxing to ignore the rest of the world.”
I had to laugh. Wanda always put on a big show about how she was ruthless and cutthroat and didn’t care about anyone, but underneath it all, she was beyond a good person, and she was the best of friends. Not that I could tell her that to her face and avoid being hexed.
I grabbed my purse and keys to lock up, heading for the door. “I’m still kind of surprised you went along with all this. You don’t strike me as the kind of ‘summer carnival’ type.”
“Did you miss the part where I said I finally relented to get you to stop flapping your gums at me?”
I frowned at her. “We both know you relented a lot faster than you normally would.”
She sighed and rolled her eyes. “I don’t give a spell about some silly human festival. But witches have been celebrating the solstice for centuries. There are bonfires, and dancing, and ceremonies that can bolster spells for months. And if someone else is willing to set it all up and pay for it, I don’t see why we shouldn’t let them.”
Wanda set off, and I struggled to keep up with her brisk pace. My legs felt like I had lead weights strapped to my feet instead of Converse. “I guess that’s true.”
“Besides,” Wanda said, shooting me a toothy grin. “I’m looking forward to hexing all the games so I can win.” It was true that she was a sore loser.
“Wanda.” I tried for disapproving, but just ended up laughing.
She sniffed, shooting me a look. “What? Most games are rigged anyway. I’m just going to tip the scale in the other direction. That’s practically justice.”
She was trying really hard to keep up her attitude of ‘I am a witch and not troubled by your silly mortal things’, but I could see that Wanda was fighting back a smile. I had a sneaking suspicion I knew the real cause of her good mood, and it had nothing to do with bonfires, cotton candy, or easily rigged children’s games.
